The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM

AT THE MAIN MEAL ON CHRISTMAS EVE, ONE PLACE IS ALWAYS LEFT
VACANT FOR THE CHRIST CHILD WHO IS SUPPOSED TO COME THE NEXT
MORNING.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Table Setting ; tradition

Date learned: 04-04-1972

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CHRISTMAS PLACE

AN EXTRA PLACE IS SET AT A POLISH CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER, IN CASE
AN UNEXPECTED GUEST DROPS IN.
THIS SYMBOLIZES THE FACT THAT MARY AND JOSEPH WERE TURNED AWAY
ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; POLISH ; Table Setting ; tradition

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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CHRISTMAS EVE BELIEF

AT THE CHRISTMAS EVE MEAL SET THE TABLE WITH THE EXACT NUMBER OF
UTENSILS. IF THERE ARE MORE THAN SUPPOSED TO BE THERE WILL BE
AN INCREASE IN THE FAMILY. IF THERE AREN'T ENOUGH, THERE WILL
BE A DEATH.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS BELIEVED BY THE INFORMANT'S FATHER STRICTLY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Holiday: Christmas ; Lore ; SUPERSTITION ; Table Setting

Date learned: 02-11-1972

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CUSTOM

ON XMAS (CHRISTMAS) EVE, A PLATE IS SET UP FOR EACH DECEASED
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY AT THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY DINNER.

Submitter comment:

(UKRAINIAN)

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Table Settings ; tradition

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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SOLUTION TO UNEVEN NUMBER AT TABLE

DURING THE UKRAINIAN CHRISTMAS EVE MEAL, IF THERE IS AN UNEVEN
NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEATED, AN EXTRA CHAIR IS SET TO SYMBOLIZE A
DECEASED RELATIVE OR FRIEND, OR SOMEONE OF THE FAMILY WHO IS UNABLE
TO ATTEND.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; SYMBOL ; Table Setting ; tradition ; UKRAINIAN

Date learned: NOT RECORDED

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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE INFORMANT'S FAMILY ALWAYS SETS ONE EXTRA
PLATE FOR DINNER. THE PLATE IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE CHRIST CHILD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Table Setting ; tradition

Date learned: 01-00-1968

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POLISH CUSTOM

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, STRAW IS PLACED UNDER THE TABLECLOTH AND AN
EMPTY PLACE IS LEFT SO THE CHRIST CHILD WOULD BE WELCOME TO COME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; POLISH ; Table Setting ; tradition

Date learned: 12-01-1967

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CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THEY PLACE AN AX UNDER THE TABLE, AND EVERY
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY MUST HAVE ONE FOOT ON IT.

Submitter comment:

JO'S BOYFRIEND IS SLAVIK (SLAVIC) AND (THEY PRACTICE THIS CUSTOM) IN
THEIR HOME.

Data entry tech comment:

ITEM REWORDED TO FIT FORMAT.

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ROOM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Slavic ; Table Setting ; tradition

Date learned: 10-02-1969

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CUSTOM-UKRAINIAN

ON CHRISTMAS EVE AN EXTRA PLACE IS SET AT THE TABLE FOR ANY
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WHO HAS DIED RECENTLY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Table Setting ; tradition ; UKRAINIAN

Date learned: 10-31-1968

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CUSTOM FESTIVAL

IN UKRAINE, A PIECE OF GARLIC IS PLACED UNDER THE TABLECLOTH
ON EACH CORNER OF THE TABLE DURING SUPPER ON CHRISTMAS EVE. THIS
SERVES TO KEEP THE FAMILY FREE FROM ILLNESS FOR THE YEAR (NEXT).

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM RELATIVES IN UKRAINE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Table Setting ; tradition ; UKRAINIAN

Date learned: 10-07-1967

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CHRISTMAS

AT SUPPER ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE MOTHER PUTS TWO LOAVES OF BREAD
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TABLE WITH A CANDLE STUCK IN EACH LOAF.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM PARENTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Table Setting ; tradition

Date learned: 11-19-1967

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SLEEP BELIEF

IF YOU CAN NOT GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT THE SAND
MAN WILL COME AND PUT SAND IN YOUR EYES TO MAKE YOU SLEEP.
IN THE MORNING YOU MAY FIND A GRITTY DEPOSIT IN THE CORNER OF
YOUR EYE. THIS IS SOME OF THE SAND HE USED TO PUT YOU TO SLEEP.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; ETIOLOGY ; Lore ; Sandman ; SLEEP ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale

James Callow Keyword(s): ETIOLOGY

Date learned: 02-19-1968

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MUSHROOM BELIEF

TO SEE IF THE MUSHROOMS YOU PICKED ARE
REALLY MUSHROOMS AND NOT TOAD STOOLS, PUT A PENNY IN
THE POT WHEN YOU COOK THEM. IF THE PENNY DOES NOT
TURN BLACK THEN THEY ARE MUSHROOMS AND SAFE TO EAT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [N242] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; COIN ; COOKING ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; Lore ; Mushroom ; Penny

Date learned: 11-18-1968

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SPINACH BELIEF

EATING SPINACH WILL MAKE YOU STRONG.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Consume ; FOOD ; Spinach ; STRENGTH

Date learned: 11-13-1968

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HEALTH BELIEF

MY INFORMANT SAID THAT HER MOTHER STRICTLY BELIEVED THAT,
"BEETS GIVE YOU RED BLOOD."

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Beets ; BELIEF ; BLOOD ; COLOR ; FOOD ; Red ; SUPERSTITION ; VEGETABLE

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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CELERY BELIEF

CELERY MAKES A PERSON SEXY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): APPEARANCE ; BELIEF ; Celery ; FOOD ; Sexy ; VEGETABLE

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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BLEEDING HEART

IF YOU TAKE APART A BLEEDING HEART BLOSSOM IN FULL BLOOM
YOU WILL GET 2 RABBITS, 2 SLIPPERS, 2 EARRINGS, AND A BOTTLE.

Submitter comment:

PARTS OF THE FLOWER RESEMBLE THESE THINGS
SAYS COLLECTOR

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): Botany ; Bottle ; Earring ; FLOWER ; Items ; Lore ; Rabbit ; Represent ; Slipper ; SYMBOL

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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DOGWOOD BELIEF

THE RED MARKS ON EACH OF THE FOUR PETALS OF THE DOGWOOD FLOWER
ARE CALLED BLOODSPOTS BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT THE PASSION MARKS
OF CHRIST.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): Christ ; Dogwood ; FLOWER ; Passion ; Passion of the Christ ; RELIGION ; Represent ; SYMBOL

Date learned: 11-12-1969

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Superstition

IF YOU CUT DOWN A TREE, A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY WILL DIE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DEATH ; FAMILY ; Legend ; Lore ; SUPERSTITION ; Tree

Date learned: 10-06-1969

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FRUIT BELIEF

IF YOU SWALLOW A GRAPEFRUIT OR ORANGE SEED, IT WILL GROW IN YOUR
STOMACH.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FRUIT ; Lore ; Seed ; SUPERSTITION ; Swallow

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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